1,000 good deeds

[Episode 12 | 1898 : Rowley]

Rowley is working to complete his 1,000 good deeds so that his father will return to the family. He collects horse manure for the market gardeners and firewood for the laundress. He and his friend, Tom Müller, climb the tree to spy on the private school students who are practising to become soldiers.

History activities [2]

Activity 1: School in the 1800s

Subtheme(s):
Social order and education

Many children in the 1800s lived a life of hardship, particularly if they came from a family dependent on paid jobs within the economy. Class status affected opportunities for a good education and the chance to enjoy a carefree childhood. School rooms were very different to the classrooms of today. Schooling for children like Rowley was limited to primary school.

Discover

In pairs, students research the availability of education and resources for children in the late 1800s. Students can research educational facilities, educational values and expectations, rules and regulations, uniforms, buildings, and general information about schools during that era. Did all children get a fair go?

Reflect

Students can create a virtual classroom of the era, including notes and information from their research. Students could elect to design the classroom using illustrations on paper or an image-editing software program. Kahootz 3 is an ideal 3-D animation software program to use here. The software is available for purchase from the Australian Children's Television Foundation (ACTF) website at http://www.kahootz.com

Activity 2: Help wanted

Subtheme(s):
Chores, business and employment; Customs and traditions

Rowley is depicted as a hardworking, selfless child. His daily routine is to help others by doing good deeds. Although he is volunteering to do these chores, many of them were commonplace for children of the era.

Discover

Discuss the chores of the late 1800s by developing a mind map. Encourage students to elaborate on some of the most common jobs seen in the clip, such as collecting horse manure and firewood. Discuss what tools Rowley may have needed to complete his chores, why his chores were necessary and what skills were required to do the chores.

Compare Rowley's belief in good deeds bringing him luck, or something that he wants, to the previous episode where Victoria and her siblings hide objects for luck. Which method do the students believe would be most effective? Do they have superstitions or beliefs that they can share with the class?

Reflect

Ask student to create a 'Help wanted' poster with a partner. They need to include a job or chore title and a description of it from the mind map. They must include the skills required to fulfil the job or chore using a job criteria section.